Increased defence spending

Romania’s foreign minister Emil Hurezeanu attended an informal meeting in Turkey focused on negotiating an increase in military spending.

Daniela Budu, 16.05.2025, 13:50

Romania’s top diplomat Emil Hurezeanu attended the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya on Wednesday and Thursday, to negotiate an increase in military spending. The meeting came as the US demands that the 32 Allied countries each allocate at least 5% of their gross domestic product to defence, a substantial increase that many countries view as unattainable.

NATO’s secretary general Mark Rutte presented a phased offer that keeps Donald Trump’s goal of 5% of GDP, but includes spending that is not strictly military.

According to a news release issued by the Romanian foreign ministry, the meeting in Turkey also focused on the agenda of the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague, which will focus on increasing defence spending, including in terms of fair sharing of responsibilities within the Alliance.

The participants discussed NATO’s priorities in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, both in terms of strengthening Allied deterrence and defence in all areas, and of further support for Kyiv. The Romanian foreign minister welcomed the US and European efforts, in which Romania also takes part, to establish ‘a comprehensive and sustainable peace, supported by solid and credible security guarantees, as well as to continue to provide assistance to Ukraine.’

At the same time, the news release also reads, Emil Hurezeanu highlighted the challenges generated by the security situation at the Black Sea, including for Romania’s neighbour, the Republic of Moldova. He emphasised the importance of increasing the contributions to collective defence of European Allies, and mentioned Bucharest’s efforts, over the past years, to increase the budget allocated to defence. Clear measures are also needed regarding deterrence and defence, with more capabilities, consolidated infrastructure and increased resilience.

According to the the foreign ministry, the talks reconfirmed the importance of revitalising the defence industry and reaching the capability targets already set, based on the new defence plans. In this context, Emil Hurezeanu emphasised the need to support national industries in member countries and referred to Romania hosting in November the NATO Industry Forum, an annual event of major importance for the Alliance.

Last week, Romania’s diplomacy chief took part in two other meetings on Ukraine. At the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Lviv (Ukraine), he stressed the importance of implementing the military support initiative for this country and the need to unlock assistance through the European Peace Facility. And at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Warsaw, Emil Hurezeanu reiterated the importance of concluding a just and lasting peace, with the involvement of Ukraine and Europe in the negotiations, in order to ensure the sustainability of a peace agreement. (AMP)